Valley Central Booster Club steps up to save school sports

WALDEN — In an effort to save Valley Central's athletic program, the newly formed Valley Central Booster Club is seeking some major-league help.

Pauline Liu

WALDEN — In an effort to save Valley Central's athletic program, the newly formed Valley Central Booster Club is seeking some major-league help.

According to club president Sheila Schwartz, the month-old group is asking for donations from Valley Central Vikings alumni, including former major league starting pitcher Matt Morris (Class of 1992) and the St. Louis Cardinals' relief pitcher Jason Motte (Class of 2000).

The month-old booster club is trying to raise enough money to rescue both the junior varsity and modified sports programs before school starts.

Both programs fell victim to budget cuts. Together, they serve more than 400 students.

The booster club's latest and most ambitious effort was Monday's benefit golf tournament at the Osiris County Club in Walden. It raised about $5,000 and drew about 90 golfers, said Schwartz.

The group has set an initial goal to save junior varsity by raising $50,000 by August 19th, when most of the teams are scheduled to begin practice. So far, the booster club is within about $12,000 of its goal, said Schwartz.

"You've got to put this in the books for a win," said Joe Byrne, Class of 2013 and the booster club secretary.

Byrne joined the dozens of families taking part in the fundraising. He was a defensive lineman for modified and junior variety football programs and played varsity as an offensive lineman. Now he has two good reasons to see that the programs continue.

His sisters, Emma, 15, and Bethany, 14, are planning to try out for the junior varsity volleyball team in a couple of weeks.

"I would be really upset if we lost junior varsity," said Emma. "It helps you to prepare for varsity, and I've kept my grades up really high (in the 90s) to make sure I could remain eligible to play."

The booster club plans to launch a fundraising effort to raise an additional $80,000 to save modified sports as school begins next month.

"Modified sports teams don't start practicing until the first day of school, and we really need the community to step up and help," said Schwartz.

"Without modified sports and junior varsity, there's no way the varsity program can be built up," said Sean Ward, 14, who expects to try out for the Vikings JV baseball team.

The booster club's fundraising blitz continues next week with a picnic Sunday at Frederick Meyer Park in Maybrook.

For more information, visit the group's website at vcathleticboosterclub.weebly.com.